Fig. 1

miR-21 (a) and miR-210 (b) values in responders and non-responders. To enable optimized depiction (i.e. decreasing miR values displayed as negative numbers), 2^−ΔΔCт values between 0 and 1 (implicating decrease) were transformed applying the formula: 1/− (2^−ΔΔCт). Note the significant miR-21 level decrease after local ablative therapy in the responders group compared to the non-responders group. miR-210 levels did not show a significant change. Note: For miR-210, lower range of the y-axis was set to − 20 to allow for optimized comparability of responders and non-responders. Therefore, patient no. 21 (transformed 2^−ΔΔCт = − 34) is not displayed. MWU = Mann–Whitney U Test